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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#66: Ready, Set, Go!

It’s almost November, and for many writers around the world that means the start of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. This wild challenge dares you to commit to writing a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days!

It’s an impressive feat, but it’s hardly the only way to exercise your writing muscles. If you like your writing in smaller doses but still want to build up the habit, today I’m going to challenge you to commit to writing a story from one prompt every week in November! (If you already do that, try for two, three, or even all five.)

To get you started, this week we’ll be focusing on stories all about challenging yourself. Whether it’s running a marathon, finally writing that novel, or just making it through a tough personal situation, challenge is what consistently pushes us to grow into our best selves.

And if you are giving novel writing a try, here are a few resources to help you along:

What Is NaNoWriMo? And How to Win in 2020
Join Reedsy’s NaNo Squad (with weekly live write-ins!)
Crafting a Novel Opening (workshop replay)
How to Write a Novel

This week's prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Novel – 132 stories

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Short Story – 52 stories

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Novel – 120 stories

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Adventure – 145 stories

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Dramatic – 135 stories

Stories

“Soul Language” by Saskia Bursa

Submitted to Contest #66

Soul Language She stared at the pages, from a distance. It was a feeling like no other in the world. She could not grasp it, could not name it. It was not satisfaction, and neither was it disappointment. It was no peace of mind as much as it was not anxiety. Over the last weeks, she managed to push it from her mind, but mostly it lurked in the back of all her thoughts, waiting for the right moment to overwhelm her. Maybe this was the feeling that followed her around from the moment she woke up until the moment she fell asleep: be...

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“My Biggest Dream ” by Lydia Sarrou

Submitted to Contest #66

If someone would have told me 10 years ago that I would be here at this very moment, I would think they are lying and look at them in a weird way. Today, what is about to happen, has been my long life dream for so many years. I remember when I was at school at 12 years old and I used to imagine myself on that stage, talking to these people about my achievements and my gratefulness. Today my dream is going to become real and ever since I woke up this morning, my whole body is shaking and trembling like it’s cold or something, but the weather ...

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“The Black Coat” by Mehreen Ahmed

Submitted to Contest #66

The Black CoatbyMehreen AhmedOne black, wintry night, Piccolo -Xavier bumped into someone while crossing the boulevard Peripherique. Once he was across, the person he hit was not visible anymore. It seemed as though, in this Parisian dark alley, this someone simply dissolved into thin air. When he peered further into darkness, his gaze shifted towards a shiny object that appeared on an uneven, asphalt footpath. He picked it up and realised that he held a locket with a broken clasp in his palm. In the insufficient street lamp, he saw that it ...

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“Jonathan Watkins' Fugue” by Jennifer Claire Pulling

Submitted to Contest #66

On the plane he felt breathless with the enormity of what he’d done. Until that moment when he’d said goodbye to the cat Cleo and trundled his suitcase down the street he had never truly believed he’d have the nerve. Years of an acquiescent life with Stella had leached all initiative out of him. At least, he supposed, he went out to shop in the market, every morning, unlike Cleo who was kept indoors from some real or imagined fear of the streets. Sometimes he fantasised a life of bachelordom, untrammelled by women....

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“Immortality's a Killer” by Levi Alexander

Submitted to Contest #66

In a room dimly lit by candles and small floating orbs, Bren had been researching years for this, notebooks filled with different forms and equations, spells and extracted aspects that might help lead him to his goal. Alas, half the books were filled with useless information, thrown to a corner of his study, the others, open, scattered across his desk and the floor surrounding, all open. Bren, sat knees folded under him on the floor, hunched over a new book trying to figure out the last piece of the puzzle, when came a knock to his d...

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“Daddy” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #66

A life long dream when you're a kid is nothing. It had been your life long dream when you were six to conquer the ice cream mountain at the shoppe down the block. You'd ended up with a tummy ache, caramel smeared lips crying out to your daddy as he hoisted you into his arms and carried you home. When you were a teen, you had claimed it was your life long dream to become a performer. Your parents entertained the notion and sent you off to summer camp, and you stood on that final stage, fingers clamped onto that microphone like it was th...

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“Own Goal” by Sylvia Lucas

Submitted to Contest #66

It all seemed so simple then. I was finishing my grade twelve studies and I knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I would go to university ( my grades were good ) , when I had my chemistry degree I would get a job in research and lead a useful working life, while taking care of my supportive husband and two children. I don't think I gave much consideration to money or home, but no doubt I assumed that would all take care of itself; just as balancing the needs of my family and my career would not present any difficulties. ...

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“it's never too late” by Snjeguljica 33

Submitted to Contest #66

We have all learned at least once that life is not fair. Well, that means we grow up day in and day out. Not everything always depends on us, in fact, so many times we are completely powerless. Maria has been through this more than a few times. From an early age, life was not fair to her. To put it mildly. The mother left her as soon as she was born, and the father would show up occasionally, only stirring up her very unhappy childhood. As an unwanted child, she struggled from orphanage to orphanage, from one foster family to another, whic...

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“Root Beer and Memories” by Sam Hershey

Submitted to Contest #66

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 At times like this when I am alone, just me and my thoughts, with nothing to really focus on, and I can slow down, I like to think back, to ponder and to think about where I have been. Yes I remember what Isaiah 43:18-43:9 tell me, I do not consider it hypocritical though, because the people who this verse...

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“The reunion” by NK Hatendi

Submitted to Contest #66

Botoro had been the centre of attention after reporting his visit to meet an official at the Department of Services and speak his mind. Now slumped precariously under the msasa tree; he was stone-cold to the touch. No one had noticed when his soul departed. Life at the old people’s home had its routines. After completing the daily duty roster, the residents would sit in the shade day in and day out, Botoro among them. Despite the persistent warnings from the Superintendent on the hazards of smoking untreated tobacco, the smokers continued t...

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“Home Sentinel” by Zethu Dlamini

Submitted to Contest #66

William drove his old Volkswagen Beetle to the bar on the other side of town, one of the only two bars in the small town of Talitha. He dragged his feet, his exhaustion evident after a long day at work. He ordered a drink and found himself a table in a subtle corner and flipped open his laptop. He was engrossed when he heard loud noises from outside the bar; William watched closely as a small group of people emanated from a shiny black 1959 Cadillac Sedan.Three ladies stepped out flanking the only man in the pack - he had black wavy hai...

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“Expectations ” by Kate Lallave

Submitted to Contest #66

Shift to the left foot then the right, kick a pebble boredly. Listen for the grinding of that annoying diesel engine. Tilt head up, straighten lips, shift stance again. It takes a lot of concentration to control the nuances of another person. All of the little ticks that are supposed to come naturally are suddenly as complex as a well-woven spider web. Something even more complicated was the fact that I was controlling my own nuances at the time. As the clumsy yellow bus approached the curb I was standing on, my eyes grazed t...

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“The sky is the limit” by Arathi Raghuveer

Submitted to Contest #66

“Fanny, wake up, its time for your regular aerobics classes followed by Zumba dance classes and not to forget your regular salsa “Mom, I know my routine, please don’t pester me I am tired I need to get some sleep”. With a huff Fanny’s mom Shirley went out of her bedroom. Fanny a 19 year old in her late teens was a great dancer and her moves and turns were a feast to the audience. At a very young age she had mastered the art of dance. A contemporary movement, hip hop style or a robotic perfection, she was the master in all dance forms. Her da...

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“A Dream is Just a Dream” by Rachel Rozelle

Submitted to Contest #66

Good morning beautiful new day. Today is the day that I finally get that deal. That long awaited book deal that has been driving my every word since I was twelve. This is that day no other day could ever be as bright. I just turned 38 and it has been a very long journey, but the trip was not in vain. Most people at my age have already made it if they are going to that is, so yay me! I have so much to do to prepare. I best get a move on it before the day gets away from me…… The smell of coffee, half café, energized the air and woke i...

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“It didn't add up” by Dewain Williams

Submitted to Contest #66

IT DOESNT ADD UP By Dewain Williams Cason Conners half alive sat up on the edge of his bed and stared begrudgingly at the sun he depended on as his alarm clock. How could it look so bright and cheery each morning when he felt so dejected by his current position in life. At twenty-eight he was still living at home with his parents; that wasn't the problem. A house of his own seemed like too much responsibility. He still has nightmares about the responsibility of a puppy his dad got for him as a boy. "Sorry max wherever you ran off to." ...

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$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 22:59 - Nov 06, 2020 EST

Won by David G. 🏆

Title: Mahalo King Cod Filet

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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